Survival Guide for the Reincarnated - Chapter 180

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 180

I once had a conversation with Father.

To completely uproot the impure forces of Snow Palace, either Father must reach Primordial Sole Existence, or I must reach Primordial Sole Existence.

At least one of these two situations must be achieved.

Until then, we must remain silent as much as possible.

Those weren’t empty words.

Realistically, that’s what must be done.

If that isn’t maintained, everything will crumble before we can achieve anything.

“That’s why I hold you in high regard, Young Master. No, I think you’re someone I dare not judge in the first place.”

“Is that so.”

“…And, you resemble him.”

There was no need to ask who he resembled.

Because Seo Hyo spoke immediately.

“You resemble Yu Cheong, yet you’re different.”

“In what way?”

“The ability to remain silent for a purpose and questioning things that others consider common sense – you’re too similar in those aspects.”

“What about the differences?”

“…There’s one.”

“Are you talking about caring for subordinates?”

“Yes.”

I looked at Seo Hyo silently.

From the very first moment I saw Seo Hyo, I had valued this man extremely highly.

At that time, I clearly told Manager Seong this.

That I was contemplating whether or not to annihilate Cheon Rim.

That was a judgment I made after seeing the man called Seo Hyo, regardless of whether Yang Seol-jin, Yu Cheong, or anyone else was behind Cheon Rim.

I thought that if he became an enemy, it would inevitably become a problem that would cost me one of my limbs later.

That’s how highly I regard Seo Hyo.

But I had to address something.

Was I the only one who thought this way?

Seo Hyo answered my questions without hiding anything, and even showed movements to protect me.

This wasn’t due to Yang Seol-jin’s or anyone else’s influence, but solely Seo Hyo’s own decision.

I read it clearly.

The sincerity of the man called Seo Hyo.

And his conflicted heart.

I quietly opened my mouth.

“Yu Cheong and Yang Seol-jin are moving very secretly for the reconstruction of the Thousand Year Demon Cult. They think they have a noble purpose in their own way.”

Seo Hyo raised his head to look at me.

“Regardless of how others might view it, they probably consider their purpose not just noble but sacred. And they won’t forgive those who dare to covet that sanctity.”

That’s how this Murim works.

Gun Mu-gyeol, whose front and back are different, Kang Cheon-u, whose front and back are clear.

And the Murim Supreme Cheon Do-ja, whose thoughts are unknown.

They all harbor their own intentions.

But there’s something they all overlook – there are hands and feet that move to achieve those intentions.

What becomes of the fate of those hands and feet?

Those with power have no hesitation in making sacrifices.

No matter how excellent the loyalty of those being sacrificed, there will be those who harbor doubts and those who try to resist.

Seo Hyo was like that.

Why wasn’t Seo Hyo there in my previous life? Why did he die so early?

Though his abilities are exceptional, Yu Cheong and Yang Seol-jin aren’t the type to watch a ‘servant’ climb up with their eyes open.

A blade that’s advantageous to them becomes advantageous to others too, and if such a blade changes its mind, it’s natural to discard it.

That’s right.

Seo Hyo was discarded.

And seeing him now, he’s clearly guessing his own future.

“Seo Hyo.”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

“Can you dedicate your entire life for the reconstruction of the Thousand Year Demon Cult?”

“I can dedicate it.”

“And you could die for that purpose?”

“I could.”

“But you don’t want to die?”

“…Yes.”

It seemed contradictory, but looking deeper, it was far from contradiction.

“You fear that there will be no place for you in the Thousand Year Demon Cult.”

“…That’s correct.”

“You could sacrifice your life for the reconstruction of the Thousand Year Demon Cult, but you want to witness its reconstruction with your own eyes, and you desperately wish for your place within it more than anyone else, so you’re wandering around looking for a way. Is that right?”

“…Not a single thing is wrong.”

Seo Hyo’s expression looked truly serious.

That’s right.

“If a servant tries to covet his master’s will, that servant’s fate ultimately has only one outcome.”

“…”

“You don’t want to remain a servant.”

“…That’s correct.”

“Yet you’ve already shown me that intention, and while Yang Seol-jin might not know, someone with Yu Cheong’s level of perception would have already noticed that you don’t want to remain a servant.”

“…That’s also correct.”

Just looking at the current situation made it clear.

The other Four Main Gods except Hwa-ju trust and follow Seo Hyo, but it’s Hwa-ju who currently runs Cheon Rim. With this, well, there’s nothing more to say.

Everyone has their own troubles.

Since Seo Hyo was also human, it wouldn’t make sense if he didn’t have such troubles.

I quietly continued speaking.

“Now I want to move to the conclusion.”

“…Yang Seol-jin and Yu Cheong are still chasing ‘Mu Myeong.'”

“You didn’t give them information?”

“Yes.”

“The reason?”

“It’s my judgment.”

“What do you plan to do going forward?”

“…I will remain silent.”

“While pretending to search?”

“Yes.”

“So what’s the conclusion?”

Seo Hyo tilted his head.

“…Didn’t I tell you? I have no intention of revealing to anyone that you were Mu Myeong…”

“The real conclusion isn’t that, is it?”

“…”

“You’re torn between me and Yu Cheong.”

“…”

“Yu Cheong tries to rebuild the Thousand Year Demon Cult but thinks of you as a servant, and he’s probably displeased that a servant’s will is trying to surpass their will. Yang Seol-jin is connected to such a Yu Cheong, so ultimately, the moment Yu Cheong decides, you’ll die. But my case is a bit different.”

Not just a bit – it was actually very different.

“Let me tell you clearly. I have no interest in whether the Thousand Year Demon Cult is rebuilt or not.”

“….”

“This is the Murim. When martial artists in the Murim want to unfold their own will, what meaning could there be in the fact that the Thousand Year Demon Cult was too powerful in the past, massacred countless people, unified the Murim, and started wars…”

I sat down facing Seo Hyo, who was slumped on the ground.

“Seo Hyo.”

“…Yes.”

“The reason you and I are having this conversation is because the balance is being shaken. You intended to help me regardless of what was in the Secret Realm, and you wanted to use that to create a debt. It was important enough to you for that.”

“….”

“I’d like to tell you to follow me, but neither you nor I are foolish enough to rush into something we’re not yet prepared for. Do you agree?”

“…I agree.”

“Then how about we reset the relationship between you and me.”

“By reset, you mean….”

“While maintaining balance with each other, helping each other in directions that achieve our respective goals.”

At these words, Seo Hyo’s eyes widened greatly.

“…That means….”

“Your thoughts are correct.”

“….”

“Try answering with your own mouth once.”

“…Are you thinking of making me a double agent.”

I nodded my head.

“And in exchange, you’re thinking of helping rebuild the Thousand Year Demon Cult.”

“That is also correct.”

“…It was truly the answer I hoped for, but will it work?”

“You have many worries.”

Seo Hyo did not smile. His expression was more serious than at any other moment.

That was right.

“…If Confucius joins with me, there will be even more enemies than now.”

“Yang Seol-jin and Yu Cheong are already my enemies.”

“…No. That’s not it. Why do you pretend not to know when you understand?”

If I join hands with Seo Hyo, Yu Cheong and Yang Seol-jin will inevitably become enemies. But would those two be all?

Absolutely not.

“The world will not permit the rebuilding of the Thousand Year Demon Cult. No matter how much you speak of the Murim’s nature and desires, that is the truth.”

Why do Yu Cheong and Yang Seol-jin operate in the shadows?

Not only the sects that revere righteousness, but even the Four Heaven Alliance, which is the center of the unorthodox path, must ultimately reject ‘demons’ in some way.

That is the reason for the existence of the Martial Alliance and Four Heaven Alliance.

In other words, joining with Seo Hyo would be like making the entire Murim an enemy.

No, not just the entire Murim, but we would also have to fight and defeat the Original Blood Sect that tries to exploit that entirety.

“So you’re worried?”

“…If you weren’t, would that make you human?”

A smile crossed my lips.

“If one is born as a man, shouldn’t one leave behind at least three characters of their name in this world?”

“…I didn’t want to leave it behind in that way though….”

Though Seo Hyo said this, his expression was quite worth seeing.

He was flushed as if excited.

His following words were also somewhat predictable.

“I, Seo Hyo, will make a gamble today, staking all 44 years of my life.”

Seo Hyo extended his hand, and I silently grasped it.

Someone like Seo Hyo would be more than suitable for the remaining Guardian position, but everything has its time and order.

This order is right for now.

I gave Seo Hyo several instructions and then sent him down.

Afterwards.

I looked at the empty void and spoke quietly.

“Manager Seong, who guards my side, had a hobby of secretly watching.”

There was no answer, but I did not stop speaking.

“But it seems the Chief also has such a hobby.”

As soon as those words ended.

Paaaaang-!!

A tremendous Air-Rending Sound burst from the sky, and the swirling snowstorm instantly evaporated.

More precisely, it ‘isolated’ the snowstorm from the surrounding area.

One of the techniques using Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, and a technique not just anyone could perform.

I turned my head.

A man with an utterly ordinary appearance descended to the ground.

The Chief of Baekryeong-wi, Cheon Ri Shin Mok Hyeon Sim, looked at my right hand and let out a deep sigh.

“…I unintentionally overheard the conversation. Hyeon Seol-rin sir… really, did you have to do that?”

I stared at him quietly.

The fact that Hyeon Sim’s field of vision is very wide is nothing new, but his gaze doesn’t always reach this peak of Ten Thousand Year Snow Mountain.

Though Seo Hyo had deployed an Energy Barrier, noticing that level would not be easy even for Hyeon Sim, so the fact that he had been positioned here from early on ultimately meant one thing.

“Elder Brother must have been truly worried about this youngest.”

“…It’s true that Dae Seol-rin told me, but this worry I’m having started from that conversation I had with Cheon Lim’s Daughter.”

I smiled slightly while looking at Hyeon Sim, who was telling me not to deflect. He continued speaking.

“…I don’t understand. Hyeon Seol-rin sir is clearly an outstanding person, so how can you make such a bad move?”

“Does it look like a bad move?”

“Before making Cheon Lim’s Daughter a double agent, how can you trust that man? Right now, that man has essentially grasped Hyeon Seol-rin sir’s weakness.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————